The gameCupheadreleased on theXbox Onein 2017 and quickly became a hit thanks to its unique art style inspired by 1930’s animation, extreme difficulty, and creative boss battles. In the years since its release, the once exclusive title has made its way to both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
Related:10 Disney References In Cuphead You Might Have Missed
As much content as there is in the game, some may want a similar experience in a different title. The following ten games listed below bear similarities toCupheadin different ways. Some are in the same genre, while others carry the same spirit of unforgiving difficulty which is equally as frustrating as it is rewarding.
10Alien Hominid
Originally released as a game for Newgrounds.com,Alien Hominidwas significantly expanded upon and given a release on thePS2, GameCube, and Xbox. The side-scrolling shooter throws tons of enemies at the adorable alien that players control.
The variety of difficulty modes ensures either a casual romp or a hardcore journey through this cartoony world. A reimagining,Alien Hominid Invasion, is currently in development by the same studio.
9Mega Man
While it lacks any sort of cooperative play,Mega Manwill tickle a similar fancy. The mixture of platforming and side-scrolling shooting makes for a brutally difficult adventure.
Levels can be tackled in any order, with each boss defeated granting new power to the titular character. The choice of levels makes the challenge slightly more forgiving. If a particular level proves too difficult at first, do another one and come back to it later.
8Castlevania
Another side-scrolling series,Castlevaniais a wholly linear affair. The classics which came out on the NES andSNESrequire patience, flawless timing, and precise platforming in order to conquer.
More recent entries have eschewed challenge, however. The series has been dormant for some time, but the originals hold up today, especiallySuper Castlevania IV. The original releases are available on modern hardware thanks to the recently releasedCastlevania Collection.
7Metal Slug
Even as 3D was becoming the dominant dimension for gaming,Metal Slugstayed true to its roots, only going 3D for aspin-offthat never leftJapan.
While not as colorful and more grounded thanCuphead, those looking for a traditional side-scrolling shooter will certainly be pleased with this series. With seven mainline entries under its belt, diving into this franchise will provide plenty of hours of side-scrolling mayhem.
6Super Meat Boy
In the early 2010’s platforms were not the dominant genre. Save forSuper Mariogames and some other Nintendoplatformers, few were paying much attention to such titles.
Related:10 Forgotten Platformers You Need To Play
Super Meat Boycame along and breathed new life into theretro-style gameplay. It is almost comically difficult, but that’s the point. Every level is tiny and brimming with deathtraps, but failing almost immediately restarts the level, creating an addictive loop of trial and error.
5Blazing Chrome
Many games take influence from retro titles, while others attempt to appear like they were made thirty years ago.Blazing Chromefalls into the latter category, with graphics that fit right in with the SNES or Sega Genesis. One quick glance and many might think it is a newContragame.
The retro look is not to say it is ugly, however, since pixel art is its own style and still has value in today’s video game landscape
4Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
This Microsoft exclusive has an entirely different tone thanCuphead.Instead of a snappy jazz soundtrack and cartoonish graphics,Ori and the Will of the Wispsstrives for a more ethereal atmosphere.
However, do not let the soothing art and serene music fool you into thinking this game is a cakewalk. On hard difficulty, the game provides quite the challenge. The less challenging modes are always there for a more casual experience, however.
3Rise And Shine
WhereCupheadis an homage to the golden age of animation,Rise and Shineis a love letter to video games themselves, chock full of references to the medium.
The gameplay is slower-paced thanCupheadand has more puzzles, but still tests players mettle with its extreme difficulty. While not as visually striking as other games, the unique graphics help make it stand out from the crowd.
2Rayman Origins
The originalRaymanis one of the hardest 2D platformers ever made. The sequels went 3D and toned down the challenge. The reboot of the franchise,Rayman Originsbrought things back to the series' roots, including the difficult platforming.
Fortunately, the developers made failure more forgiving, with infinite lives and checkpoints at the start of each room.Cooperative playmakes things a little more manageable as well.
1Contra
While not the first side-scrolling action shooter, it is one of the most legendary ever released. Fighting aliens never felt so fun. Because of this game, the genre became more popular than ever, which eventually led to throwback games likeBlazing ChromeandCuphead.
Unfortunately, the series itself has seen better days, with the most recent release,Contra: Rogue Corps, receiving lackluster reviews.
